>Is the matrix also silver. Another words, if you sanded down the black portion of the rock, would it show silver underneath?

The matrix is not interesting at all. I don't think there is silver inside. It's rather a complex mix with very small cerussite crystals and dusty galena plus, perhaps, some iron oxides and other hard to identify materials. The only valuable portion of the specimen, if any, are the cerussite crystals._________________Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

Rhombododecahedral {110} almandine crystals on micacite. Overall size: 138 mm x 114 mm. Main crystal size: 29 mm across. Weight: 673 g. Undamaged. Purchased in 1987 at Sant Celoni fair, not far from Barcelona. The dealer said back then the specimen had been acquired at the Torino show. I suspect the crystal faces might have been somewhat polished or treated since they are too neat and smooth.

Don't even think I get a photo in just a minute. Sometimes it takes me near two hours of hard work to have a decent picture ready to post. I have no or little experience in photography and, in addition, I own a simple and outdated camera whose current value is much less than $99. I usually take between 15 and 25 shots of a single specimen, often in different positions, and then I spend a rather long time choosing the best, a task very slow and difficult, because all the photos seem almost equal. The final step is fixing it by software, not to make it appear better than actually is, but just to make it the closest possible to the real thing.

That is the whole story.

Thanks once again for your comments,_________________Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

you are too modest, I think you take brilliant mineral photos, the time and effort you put into capturing each mineral specimens character and presence in a single photo is truly reflected in the results that you achieve. Congratulations.

This is not the right place, but I'd like to make you aware that I'm offering, for free, a complete and useful computer program for cataloging your mineral collection. It's the tool that I myself have been happily using since year 2003.

In a July 10 post to Jon Mommers, you suggest using two or three fluorescent lamps for lighting specimens for photography. What type of fluorescent lamp are you talking about and can you post a photo of one?_________________John S. White
aka Rondinaire

They're three low energy 27 W light bulbs. Some people name them 'compact fluorescent lights' as well. I'll try to take a photo for you to see, later today or perhaps tomorrow. But I'm not an expert in photography, I'm still learning, so I'm sure other forum members can give a much better advice. There is even a specific thread in the forum to discuss minerals photography._________________Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

Thank you Carles. If I can obtain the same results that you can then I would be very pleased. I am reluctant, however, to use a tool like photoshop to enhance the photos._________________John S. White
aka Rondinaire

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum